The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-12
THE DAY AT THE POLLS.

A Variety Of Weather, Much Hard Work,
and q Heavy VestPocket Vote.
There were sunshine and clouds, winds vary
ing from straight blows to tempestuous gusts,
aud more than all raw air to make the out
door work of Yesterdays election undesirable
duty. AS if these execrable weather conditions
were not enough to depress the ardor of the most
energetic politician, there occurred in the after
noon dashng rains, when more or less hail fell.
| The day began WELL with clear sky and cheer
ing sum- but before o'clock the clouds gathered,
the air became chilly and piercing and so it con-
tinued until the close of the polls. The usual
jokes to its being bad weather for Republic
ans passed freely among the bystanders at the
polls, particularly when there was lull in the
voting, and the gangway remained empty for
five and ten minutes at time. But the inter-
val would pass and be followed by in which
the suffragists would cast their ballots rapid
" as if there end to the line. Another
resting spell would come to inspectors. judges,
clerks and challengers. to be again succeeded by
brisk voting. Of course. at noon and in the
evening there was but little opportunity for
them to do anything but receive votes, record
names and watch the voters. It ives then that
the northern wards began to pull up their aver
ages of past elections. showing decisive gains for
/
such as to warrant this expectation, and the
workers interested in the Republican ticket
counted with little doubt on its getting vote
beyond that of last fall
There was life, steady work and confidence in
the northern part Of the city, while in the
South Side the Democrats would not venture an
opinion and complained of its being hard to get
out their voters. Last fall it otherwise.
Then the gang had dash and bravado, wagons
and drums, and a general hurrah air in their
movements. Every quarter of q precinct
searched for voters. They routed from
boarding houses, shops, and even sick beds, but
yesterday there was little none of this work
on the part of the gang agents On the North
Side the voting was year ago, regarded as
something that could be done If had the
time and left undone if he did not feel like GO
ing to the polls. The result manifested itself in
the impudent claims of Coy aud his hackers
long before the polls were closed. They claimed
every Office from the head of the ticket down,
and would not concede even o possibility Of any
Re publican being elected. But yesterday it
was early shown that the Coy ticket had lost
materially through Democratic votes of a year
ago being given either for Denny Davy. 1t
was taking the best chances of at the
evry outset away from the gang, leaving it
nothing but bribery and frauds to carry It
through, with the assistance of its legitimate
votes south of Washington street There was
no sweeping revolt among the North Side Dem
ocrats but their vest pocket vote, with that
given the Union labor ticket. damagede Eden
harter aud O'Donnell OF this the gang had
early information. but instead of attempting to
counterfeit the loss Coy left the Democrats
loyal to him in every ward north of Washington,
tn take care OF themselves
These workers remained ct the POLLS but with
a sort of perfunctionary dulness that predicted
defeat AS the day progressed the confidence of
the Republicans increased and in nothing except
the secret vote which no one tried to explain
could be there found anything to even encourage
the gang It appeared if the uncomfortable
energy of the boss had been transferred his
ward, from which early in the day the
port went out that he was running fifty votes
behind Edenharter. Whether true or false Coy
than in that of the he had nominated for
Mayor and city clerk. for but little of his time
was spent away from the two precincts of the
Eighteenth ward. Usually at election he
be traced from one poll to another by the liveli-
his money threw into certain classes of
voters. Yesterday it was Coyism without the
presence of Coy.
The vest pocket VOTE that indefnable factor
10 elections until after the ballots counted
did the work. In Edenharter's own precinct
1t bore conspicuous part IN disturbing calcula-
tions. The Union Labor people claimed it in
face of the fact that their open vote was far